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(Model.)

G. C. FRAZIER.

COPFIN HANDLE.

X Paten'tedJa'n. 10, 1888.

UNITED STATES s PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. FRAZIER, ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HAMILTON, LEMMON, \ARNOLD 8D CO., OF SAME PLACE.

COFFIN-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,407, dated January 10, 1888.

i Application filed July 11, 1887. Serial No. 243,949. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

`Be it known that I, GEORGE C. FRAZIER, of Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coffin-Handle Sockets; and I do'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in handle arms and sockets for coffins; and it consists in a socket having a handle-arm fitting loosely within the socket and projecting normally therefrom in an upwardly-inclined direction, so as to be movable lengthwise, the object being that the strain on the socket in the act of lifting vthe coffiny shall be a direct pulling strain, and not a torsion.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction, which I will hereinafter indicate. j

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of the socket and the arm of the handle-bar. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear or inside view, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line x of Figs. 'l and 3:

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents the socket, and 3 is the arm. These parts constitute the necessary portions of the device. The socket is made outwardly convex in form, and, preferably near its upper end, it has a hole through which the arm 3 extends at an upward inclination. At the outer end of the arm 3 there is a ring, 4, which is adapted to receive the usual handle-bar, and at or near the other end, inside the socket 2, the arm is provided with pins or projections 5,which prevent the entire withdrawal of the arm from the socket. It may also be provided with coiled springs 6, connecting the arm with the socket and tending to hold the arm within the socket. These springs are preferably coiled of a singlepiece of Wire and are fastened by bending over a malleable lug, 7, at the base of the socket. The springs may b`e dispensed with, if desirable.

In screwing the socket to the side of the coffin or casket it is set so that the arm shall extend upwardly and not downwardly.

Figs. l, 2, and 3 and the full lines of Fig. 4

show the arm of the handle-bar before it is drawn out, and the dotted lines of Fig. 4 show the position of the arm when the coffin is raised by a person grasping the handle-bar. The arm is then drawn out against the retaining force of the springs 6 until the end of the arm, which is preferably curved for this purpose, engages the socket. Then the weight of the coffin does not tend to force the socket off the coffin, as when the arm is downwardly directed, and the danger of breaking and like accidents is very much lessened.

The form of the socket may be very much altered without departing from the essential principles of my invention, which consists in a handle-socket which is screwed to the side of the, coffin, and from which a handle-arm projects normally in an upward direction, as distinguished from prior constructions, wherein the handle-arms either project in a downward direction both before and after theV coffin is raised or wherein they are hinged and normally project downwardly and only project upwardly when the cofn is being lifted. The disadvantage of the former construction is that the torsional strain entails danger of.

breaking the parts, and the disadvantage of the latter is that the large degree of motion permitted to the handle-bar is the cause of loose motion, and unduly detracts from the strength and neatness of the socket.

Another feature of my invention which I regard as important is that the arm 3 when raised, owing to its curvature or inclination, is drawn outwardly at the same time and removes the handle-bar from the side ofthe coffin or casket, so that it may be conveniently grasped, and when the arms are drawn back into the sockets the handle-bar is again brought near to the side of the coffin.

I claim- 1. The con1bination,with acoffin, of a socket fastened to the side thereof and having a handle-arm fitting loosely within the socket, said handle -arm being movable lengthwise and projecting normally from the socket in an upwardly-inclined direction, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with a handle-socket, of an arm projecting upwardly therefrom and fitting loosely, so as to be movable lengthwise,

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said arm being curved or set at an inclination In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ro Within the socket, whereby when projected my hand this 8th day of July, A. D. 1.887. from the socket it moves outwardly, substantially :1s and for the purposes described. GEORGE C. FRAZIER.

3. The combination, with n handle-socket, l of an arm projecting upwardly therefrom and Vitllesses: fitting loosely, so as to be movable lengthwise, THOMAS YV. BAKEWELL, and a spring connecting the arm and socket, \V. B. CORWIN. substantially as and for the purposes described. 

